Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with LINK on widening the criteria for establishing additional banking hubs.

While the Government engages with LINK on a range of issues, decisions regarding changes to LINK’s independent assessment criteria are a matter for LINK and the financial services sector.

The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 230 hubs have been announced so far, and over 180 are already open.